What is Paraplegia and Quadriplegia?

Paraplegia is the loss of sensation and movement in legs and in part or all of the trunk, usually resulting from an injury to the spinal cord below the neck.
Quadriplegia is paralysis of all four limbs (from the neck down) resulting from injury to the neck. Fractures or compression of the vertebrae, which cause permanent damage to the spinal cord may lead to loss of sensation, movement, pain management, bladder and bowel control, as well as affecting sexual function.
A spinal cord injury can happen to anyone at any time.
There are 350 - 400 new spinal cord injuries every year in Ontario (approximately one every day) and current estimates indicate that there are approximately 12,000 Ontarians living with spinal cord injury
Spinal cord injury is one of the most traumatic events to occur in an individual’s life.
Spinal cord injury affects family, friends, employers, community and the health care system.
People can and do make a positive adjustment to life with a spinal cord injury given the right supports at the right time.
The highest incidence of injury is to individuals in the age range of 20-29 and to also, those over 70 years of age.
The cost of spinal cord injury to the Canadian health care system can be between $1.25 million and $25 million over an individual’s lifetime depending on severity of injury
On average, it takes 2 to 3 years to attain sufficient independence following spinal cord injury.
Intensive psycho-social support is a critical component to rehabilitation from the onset of injury, through acute hospitalization, rehabilitation hospitalization and transition to community living
43.2% of spinal cord injuries are sustained by unintentional falls
27% of spinal cord injuries are the result of medical conditions or sports injuries
42.8% of spinal cord injuries are from motor vehicle accidents
8 - to - 10% of our population has a mobility impairment
In Ontario, approximately 600,000 people, or 7% of the population, live with a paralysis or permanent mobility impairment
The unemployment rate for people with SCI is 62%
Last year, CPA Ontario helped 74 people return to work
Problems related to pain, mobility and agility affected the largest number of adults. Nearly 3 million adults aged 15 and over, or 11% of this age group, reported one of these limitations.(PALS 2006)
Disabilities related to mobility were present in less than 2% of people between the ages of 15 and 24, but affected about 44% of individuals aged 75 and over. (PALS 2006)
Ontario reported a disability rate (15.5%) slightly higher than the national rate. (PALS 2006)
It is estimated that 90% of what we know about spinal cord injury has been discovered in the last 20 years.
Males represent 68.4% of all spinal cord injuries. Woman represent 31.6%